Northridge tennis team tops Memorial to repeat at home

By Greg Keim
THE GOSHEN NEWS

May 23, 2009 10:02 pm

— The Northridge Raiders defeated Elkhart Memorial, 4-1, in the championship match of a girls tennis sectional Saturday at Northridge in Middlebury.
“This is a good win for us,” Northridge coach Angie Brenneman said. “We knew it would be a good match no matter which team won.
“We had to work hard for all our wins and today was no exception. I’m pleased to see the girls pull this one out.”
It’s Northridge’s seventh sectional title and second straight.
Northridge (13-2) meets NorthWood on Tuesday at 5 p.m. in the Northridge regional. The East Noble winner and Warsaw square off in the other regional semifinal.
Tuesday’s winners return for the regional championship Wednesday at 5 p.m.
It’s Brenneman’s first sectional title at Northridge and the third of her career. She won two while coaching at Westview.
“Northridge has a very aggressive style of play,” Memorial coach Mitch Kajzer said. “They won the first game at each of five positions rather handily.”
The Raiders took a fairly quick 2-0 lead as seniors Rita Jakubowicz and Mackenzie Pletcher topped senior Alyssa Dibley and junior Anissa Hakim 6-2, 6-1 at No. 1 doubles. Freshman Alexis Schmidt defeated senior Casey Delucenay 6-2, 6-1 at No. 2 singles.
“I was pleased to see the way Alexis played,” Brenneman said. “That’s great to see from a freshman.”
Memorial then made it 2-1 as senior Katelyn Grubb posted a 6-2, 6-1 win over junior Kristin Zakiewicz at No. 1 singles.
“This is the third time this season those two have played,” Kajzer said. “They know each other well. Zakiewicz played a fantastic match. Katelyn is just a very solid player.”
Grubb remains alive in the No. 1 singles tournament with a 19-2 record. She has been the sectional No. 1 singles champion for the past three seasons.
“Zakiewicz and Grubb had a great match,” Brenneman said. “Grubb has had a great career.”
Northridge’s No. 2 doubles team of senior Jackie Kruis and sophomore Ali Bullock clinched the title with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-3 tie breaker) victory over sophomores Katherine Dickerson and Erin Smith.
“Winning that tie breaker should be a confidence boost for them,” Brenneman said.
Junior Ella Wynn notched the final point for the Raiders as she topped senior Kelly Emerson 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 at No. 3 singles.